Active House by Polygon Lab

Active House is a project to demonstrate that it is possible to build an energy-efficient house in Russia. The design is based on the principle of reaching a balance between energy saving, healthy indoor climate and care for the environment.

.

Project description:

The First Active House in Russia was designed to set a new standard for residential house construction in Russia. The design is based on the Active House principle of reaching a balance between energy saving, healthy indoor climate and care for the environment, all of which add to the architectural quality and well-being of the residents. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark participated in the official opening of the house and together with the partners behind the project and Russian officials, he cut the ribbon.

Active House is a pilot project, a prototype of an individual house construction. Its main purpose is to demonstrate that it is possible to build an energy-efficient house in Russia ? with the right combination of architectural design, engineering and materials. An Active House creates healthier and more comfortable indoor conditions for occupants and ensures a generous supply of daylight and fresh air.

The project was planned and coordinated by one of the leading property developers in the Moscow region, the Zagorodny Proekt Company, in cooperation with the VELUX Group. The VELUX Group is working hard today on the solutions of tomorrow by promoting architecture that enhances our quality of life and the sustainable development of society.

“The Active House concept is the way forward. An Active House is designed to work in harmony with nature, to use the energy of the sun and wind intelligently and to encourage a sustainable lifestyle. And we must make sure that architecture and good indoor climate get just as high a priority as energy saving,” says Jørgen Tang-Jensen, CEO of the VELUX Group. “As a private company, we regard it as part of our corporate responsibility to share our knowledge of daylight and indoor climate as an active contribution to meeting the challenge of reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions,” says Jørgen Tang-Jensen.

“The Active House experience has allowed us to better understand the philosophy of sustainable development, – says Dmitry Aksenov, Chairman of the board for Zagorodny Proekt company. Our task as a company is not only to build and sell houses but also to create comfortable and healthy environments in harmony with nature. We hope that together with our partners we can lay a solid foundation for the establishment and development of sustainable building practices in Russia. The Active House will hopefully become an open forum for discussions, we will be monitoring the house all through the following year and hope that the interest in the project and Active House thinking will continue to grow.

The house is energy efficient and easy to operate. To reduce CO2 emissions and optimise energy performance, the building must be considered as a whole, not just as the sum of its components. The house exploits a variety of energy sources, all of which are integrated into the overall design; its prime energy source is the free energy of the sun. Calculations show that the house uses 4 times less energy than specified in current building regulations, and 7-8 times less than an average house in Russia. The total energy consumption is calculated to be about 110 kWh/ m2 a year.

The Active House in Russia was designed by the Russian architecture firm Polygon Lab (part of Zagorodny Proyekt). The house is situated in the outskirts of Moscow in Zapadnaya Dolina, a new residential community currently under construction and with plans for more Active Houses to come.